Imaging Descriptors of Human Papilloma Virus-mediated and Human Papilloma Virus-negative Oropharyngeal Cancers in Indian Subcontinental Patients

Background Nearly 24,000 new cases of oropharyngeal cancers (OPCs) are reported per year in India, constituting 3.9% of cancers in all sites. By 2009, Human papilloma virus (HPV), in particular HPV-16, was established as an etiological factor and even a causative agent in OPCs being associated with up to 70% OPCs. Prior imaging-based studies have described certain differentiating factors between HPV-mediated and HPV-negative OPC, highlighting computed tomography and magnetic resonance characteristics that could help differentiate the two groups. Our study aimed to evaluate any imaging differences between HPV-mediated and non-HPV-mediated oropharyngeal malignancies in the Indian subcontinent population. Methods Seventy-nine patients from the Indian subcontinent who were referred to a tertiary center in southern India between the period of January 2019 to September 2020 (19 months) were included in the study. Imaging descriptors were documented by blinded radiologists, and univariate and multivariate analysis of various imaging descriptors and imaging differences between HPV-mediated and non-HPV cases were attempted to be identified. Results We found no statistically significant imaging differences between HPV-mediated and non-HPV-mediated oropharyngeal malignancies. The only epidemiologically significant difference in the two groups was that in women and nonsmokers, HPV-mediated malignancies were more common. Conclusion HPV-mediated and HPV-negative malignancies have similar primary tumor as well as nodal imaging characteristics. Previously cited differences in the two groups, in Western literature, could not be demonstrated in our population. It implores further research into whether downstaging of treatment and better prognosis of HPV-mediated malignancies is actually applicable in the Indian subcontinent setting.